Ancient mythology has served as the inspiration for countless films made throughout the centuries, even being one of the earliest genres of Hollywood films. Mythology is one of the most creative sources of inspiration for modern storytelling, and many creators have brought these stories to life. Indeed, a strong foundation on ancient mythology makes for some of the best stories.

RELATED: 10 Greatest Conspiracy Thrillers

These tales of mythology have fantasy and adventure at the heart of their stories, with a great emphasis on heroism and friendship. But they also serve as fables and warnings, often telling stories of betrayal, restraint, and doing the right thing even when difficult. Through animation or epic live-action fantasy, cinema has proved adept at bringing these tales to viewers in modern spectacle.

10 Hercules Is One Of Disney's Best Heroes

Unofficial Disney Prince - Hercules

Although Disney and heroism have become synonymous with the Marvel superhero movie, Hercules once held that distinction. Based on the Greek strongman hero Heracles, Hercules is the son of Zeus himself, and his favorite child.

The Disney animated film told a more comedic version of the tale of Hercules, seeing the hero stripped of his mortality and on a quest to reclaim it. Along his epic journey of heroism and battles against Hades, Hercules falls in love with Meg – though he is unaware of her true motivations.

9 Immortals Told The Ancient Tale Of Theseus

Immortals Movie

Immortals followed the story of Greek hero Theseus (Henry Cavill) in a more grounded tale that pits him against the villainous warrior king Hyperion. As the evil king seeks to extend his reign, Theseus leads a small group against the king in search of the bow of the Epirus Bow.

RELATED: 10 Actors Who Were Born To Play Villains

From a battle with the Minotaur to the horrific brazen bull punishment, Immortals puts a new spin on classic Greek myth to craft an original tale. As Theseus leads his friends, he is aided by the gods in his battle against Hyperion, who is intent on releasing the Titans into the world.

8 Beowulf Was A Great Animated Epic Of The Mythological Poem

beowulf Cropped

Ray Winston's animated portrayal of the legendary hero Beowulf was an underrated fantasy epic that saw him battling the monster Grendel. Based on the ancient poem about the hero's feats, Beowulf proves himself the cunning warrior he had hyped himself up to be.

Taking place across the latter years of Beowulf's life, it sees his age from a young hero into an old king, one whose past mistakes haunt him. Eventually, his biggest error comes back in the form of a dragon, and Beowulf, the aged king, must save his people before it's too late.

7 DragonHeart Showed Audiences What It Means To Be A Knight

1996's DragonHeart (starring Dennis Quaid and Sean Connery) united an outcast knight-turned-dragon slayer with one of the world's last dragons. Originally a mentor to a young prince, Bowen (Quaid) sought the help of a noble dragon to save his friend by lending part of his heart.

RELATED: 10 Best Trends In Modern Cinema

The story moves to many years later, the prince now a corrupted king and Bowen, a despondent knight without purpose. When he teams with the dragon Draco, Bowen is reminded of his duty, and the unlikely friends set out to save the helpless from their tyrannical king.

6 The Mummy Made Fun Use Of Ancient Egyptian Myth

Brendan Fraser with binoculars in The Mummy.

1999's The Mummy helped propel Brendan Fraser into his heyday of stardom, and spurred on two sequels. Beginning with a fictionalized retelling of the history of Ancient Egypt, it follows the evil priest Imhotep and his love affair with the pharaoh's wife, Anck-Su-Namun.

Making use of everything from the curse of the mummy to the dynamic pantheon of Egyptian gods, it was a great adventure horror story. After the heroes accidentally reawaken the mummified Imhotep, the monstrous being wreaks havoc, returning the ten plagues to Egypt.

5 Troy Gave Life To The Ancient War Tale

Brad Pitt as Achilles in Troy

The epic war movie of the Battle of Troy, Brad Pitt led the star-studded ensemble cast as the mythological hero Achilles. Leading his armies against the forces of Troy, Achilles fights a fierce battle against the island nation, inching ever closer to victory against the Trojans.

RELATED: 10 Worst Trends In Modern Cinema

As Achilles continues to prove himself the greatest warrior in battle, he defeats the heroes of Troy one by one. Of all the Hollywood recreations of the stories contained within Homer's Iliad, Troy was by far one of the most action-packed and intense films.

4 King Arthur Told The King Of Camelot's Greatest Battle

King Arthur 2004 cast photo

With Clive Owen stepping in as the infamous Celtic king, King Arthur told the story of the Knights of the Round Table in their twilight years. The knights are dispatched by the Roman rulers on their final mission before gaining freedom to save the family of a Roman priest and bring them back.

As the Court of Camelot dwindles in number, Arthur and his knights prepare for an impending assault by the Saxon invaders. The ruthless warriors pursue the knights across Britain, and the knights prove themselves heroic several times along the journey.

3 Clash Of The Titans Brought The Myth Of Perseus And The Kraken To The Screen

clash of the Titans 1981

The original 1981 version of Clash of the Titans followed Perseus in his journey to save Princess Andromeda and vanquish the Kraken. The legendary Greek hero divides the gods, with some opting to help while others hinder his numerous quests and battles with monsters.

RELATED: 10 Sequels That Had Nothing To Do With Their Franchise

Despite a 2010 remake, the original Clash of the Titans deserves far more recognition for substance over spectacle compared to its newer counterpart. The original delved much deeper into the mythology and did a better job explaining its characters' motivations.

2 300 Is An Epic Battle Against The Odds

Gerard Butler as Leonidas I, yelling during the middle of a battle, fallen Spartans lay behind him.

Zack Snyder's visually beautiful adaptation of the Frank Miller comic book based on the ancient battle, 300, brings an exaggerated version of the Persian invasion of Greece. Seeing the warrior-king Leonidas lead his 300 soldiers to the Hot Gates was a great David and Goliath story.

The film pursued a more mythological interpretation of the battle, exaggerating the skill and strength of the Spartans and Persians. The film has endured as an excellent action movie, showcasing some of Snyder's best usage of his signature slow-motion fight scenes.

1 Jason And The Argonauts Is The Best Of The Greek Myth Movies

An image from Jason and the Argonauts.

The tale of Jason, the Argonauts, and their search for the Golden Fleece sees the eponymous crew set out on a fantastical journey across their known world. As the gods watch in amusement - as Greek gods often do in mythology - the heroes battle creatures and encounter perils on their journey.

Although the film's effects may seem dated with the use of stop motion, the story is nonetheless the greatest on-screen Greek myth yet told. Its use of monsters, heroism, betrayal, and an incredible journey bring fans nothing short of an epic adventure.

NEXT: 10 Greatest Weapons From Action Movies